Workers renovate Amboy's Veterans Park

Posted: Tuesday, Oct 2nd, 2012BY: staff

AMBOY – The Amboy American Legion Poths-Lavelle Post #453, along with Amboy city employees, recently undertook the much-needed renovation of the Veterans Park at the corner of East Avenue and Division Street in Amboy.

The park was originally dedicated to the veterans of World War I on Memorial Day, 1920, in particular to seven veterans from the Amboy area that gave their lives in the defense of their country and seven trees were planted in their memory. Some of the trees were destroyed by a fire that also destroyed two hand-painted murals on the walls of a building that burned next to the park in 1993.

An old tree that had grown too large for its location near the bench and memorial had to be removed. It was cut down and the roots dug up. Two new pin oak trees were purchased by the American Legion and planted near the same spot.

Amboy city employees worked on the preparation of the ground around the shelter in the park. Over five dump truck loads of old grass, rocks, and trash were removed from the area. Sod, purchased by the American Legion, was laid by the city employees to replace all the old grass.

The final step is to keep it all watered down so that the sod and trees will be well set for the winter weather. American Legion members Don Schamberger and Doug Foster spearheaded the project.